cost of living

petabear

Thank you so much charlie792 thats really helpful. I didnt realise tenant insurance exsisted...it looks like I have alot to learn!

I overestimated on the shopping as i'm sure I can do it for about 150 seeing as I cook everything from scratch anyway.
Thank you

BitterAndTwisted

For the winter months I think you should set aside £100 a month for heating. Obviously this all depends on what the source is and how well insulated the property might be as well as whether it has double-glazing or not. Try to avoid a property with an open-plan ground-floor and especially any staircases going up from living-rooms. They can eat heat faster than you can generate it in the winter, specially like in the last two we've just had.

daska

Amazing how it varies isn't it. Apparently the average single persons water bill with our local water company is £213.60 (£17.80/month) got this figure a couple of weeks ago.

charlie792

daska wrote: »

Amazing how it varies isn't it. Apparently the average single persons water bill with our local water company is £213.60 (£17.80/month) got this figure a couple of weeks ago.

Its shocking My water is unmetered (and as rented I can't get it metered) so we get charged the full price regardless of just being the two of us.

Stupid thing is our water company charges less for the water (£200 odd) but £280 for sewage....

tellmeitsfriday

My water bill is around £600 a year!

jess1974

petabear wrote: »

i'm moving to Bury St Edmunds! Thats where my partners based we've been looking at places in Bury and Thetford

Thetford does'nt have the best reputation but is probably cheaper than Bury, steer clear of Abbey estate, St Johns Way, St Martins Way and anywhere near the Sainsburys end of Thetford, the Tesco end is much nicer...

abby1234519

charlie792 wrote: »

Its shocking My water is unmetered (and as rented I can't get it metered) so we get charged the full price regardless of just being the two of us.

Stupid thing is our water company charges less for the water (£200 odd) but £280 for sewage....

And I still live in a house of 6 girl students and we pay £27.50 every month! I think we're getting a rather good deal

I love Bury St Edmunds, not too fond of Thetford, I like the forest and thats it!

petabear

does anyone know any other areas around there we should steer clear of? Little bit worried we'll end up renting a flat in a bad area

*Robin*

petabear wrote: »

the flats we've been looking at cost around 500 a month so its not too bad, and here renting is terrible, prices have shot up with everything.For the same type of flats you have to pay at least 900 a month, i pay 600 a year car insurance and food is much more expensive here so i'm not too worried about money in that way. We arent planning to get married yet so at the moment private renting is our only option. Thank you all for your help I really appreciate it.

Hi Petabear,

I have family in Spain so go backwards and forwards. Had to comment on "food is much more expensive here" - my experience is the opposite; good quality fresh ingredients are much cheaper in Spain than the UK, especially in the SE (I live about 35 miles from Bury - a lovely town, and I like Thetford too). If you're used to cooking with olive oil, for example, you would be well advised to take as much as you can carry when you do move or you'll get a nasty shock in the supermarket. We also take wine home which saves a fortune as Mr Robin likes a glass or two every evening.
My car insurance [comprehensive] costs just under 600€ in Spain, but only £350 a year in the UK (but you don't usually get free recovery or legal cover with UK car insurance).
What about your health cover? Will you be able to access NHS services? If not, you'll need health insurance as private medicine is very expensive in the UK, as are dentists and vets (if you've got a pet). It is often difficult to find an NHS dentist, near to impossible where I live; our family dental cover for three people costs £45pm, which gives us 50% off most bills at an excellent private dentist (so we pay: for cleaning - £68, a white filling - £98, a crown - £225, but emergency treatment is free).

As your partner's in the RAF, is there no possibility of getting services accommodation, or do they want a marriage certificate first?

Sid_Wolf

jess1974 wrote: »

Suffolk is a lovely county but stay away from the Ipswich area, i'm on the Norfolk/Suffolk border xx

Cheeky git :rotfl: we're not all bad lol